Legoland will open water park by summer 2012

Wednesday

Nov 30, 2011 at 5:58 AM

By RYAN E. LITTLELedger Media Group

WINTER HAVEN - A water park inside the gates of Legoland Florida will have six attractions, will cost $12 to add to a standard Legoland ticket and will open before summer 2012, park officials announced Tuesday.

Legoland spokeswoman Jackie Wallace said the park hopes that the addition will turn Legoland into a multi-day attraction.

"We're really excited to offer a Legoland water park attraction to give Winter Haven and Central Florida another way to see Legoland," Wallace said. "Legoland Water Park is really going to bring us to that second day because you can do a full day at Legoland and then come back a second day and do the water park."

But if existing season pass holders want to upgrade their annual passes to include unlimited water park admission, it will negate out a pricing loophole many families took advantage of.

The Legoland Premium Pass will include 12 months of seasonal admission to the water park in addition to regular park admission and free parking. It costs $179 (not including tax) for visitors ages 13 to 59 and $149 for ages 3 to 12 and 60 and older.

Before the official announcement of the water park, Legoland Florida offered only two season passes. The Standard Pass was good only for 12 months of park admission. The Plus Pass added free parking and a 10 percent discount at stores inside the park in addition to 12 months of park admission.

The Plus Pass is $30 more than the Standard Pass, but a family of four only needed one to get the benefits.

That loophole is now closed if a family wants to add on admission to the water park because every family member has to pay the full price of the Premium Pass, which includes the additional discounts.

So where a family of four -- two adults passes and two children's passes -- could pay $520.02 per year, including tax, for the benefits of one Plus Pass and the admission of the Plus Pass and three Standard Passes, it will cost $701.92, including tax, to have four Premium Passes.

Mother of three and Legoland season pass holder, Daphne Garrission, 44, of Winter Haven, took advantage of the benefits of having just one Plus Pass, but says she will pay to upgrade all five of her tickets even though she wishes there was a less-expensive pass that offered water park access without paying for the extra discounts.

"I will do what I have to do to support Legoland ... and my children are at an age where I think we are going to be there a lot so I'm willing to pay the $50," Garrison said. "I'm disappointed, I wish things were more affordable, but at the same time I would still pay.

"I couldn't pay for it all at one time, but I would definitely save up."

Season ticket holders who don't plan to use the water park often could just pay the extra $12 dollars each time they want to go to the water park. If a family of four standard season pass holders went to the water park three times a year, paying $12 for each person, they would save roughly $60 compared to if they upgraded their season tickets.

It is unclear how long the water park will be open for each year and Legoland will not sell water park-only tickets.

The park will recycle Splash Island attractions and consist of a new Lego theme. It's a continuation of Legoland Florida's merging of Cypress Garden-era rides with Legoland California ride concepts, according to Wallace.

The Cypress Gardens Kowabunga Bay wave pool will be the Lego Wave Pool. The Paradise River will be the Build-A-Raft River, where visitors can ride clear inner tubes with Lego add-ons in the 1,000-foot-long lazy river.

The water park will also include:

Twin Chasers, a 375-foot-long intertwining tube ride.

Splash Out, three unique slides that stand 60 feet high.

Joker Soaker, an interactive water playground that includes 300-gallon spills on a surrounding pool.

DUPLO Splash Safari, an aquatic playground with toddlers in mind.

Legoland officials first announced their plans to open the water park at the former Cypress Gardens Splash Island attraction at a media event just before the park's Oct. 15 grand opening, but few details were given.

The water park's opening date has yet to be set, but a Legoland Florida release said the park is "scheduled to open in time for summer 2012."

Admission to the water park will require a general admission ticket and an additional fee.

It will cost an additional $12 for anyone 4 years old or older and $3 for anyone three or under, including 2-year-olds and younger, who get free regular admission.

Second-day visitors will be able to take advantage of the second day pricing to get a full, less expensive day at Legoland Water Park.

Legoland visitors could visit the water park on a second visit for $27, $15 for the special second day pricing and $12 for the water park.

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